Container

ABSTRACT

A container ( 1 ) for liquid products fashioned from at least one blank of multi-layer paper material comprises an essentially parallelepiped body ( 2 ) with four side walls ( 4, 5, 6, 7 ), and a top section ( 9 ) presenting four angled faces ( 4   a,    5   a,    6   a,    7   a ) that converge toward a tubular element ( 17 ) providing a spout ( 15 ) from which to pour the liquid contents. The tubular element ( 17 ) also presents four tags ( 24 ) designed to interact with the top section ( 9 ); the tags function as anchors insertable between and weldable together with the corresponding edges ( 11 ) of the blank to form joined areas ( 12 ) serving as both closure and reinforcing elements in the finished container ( 1 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a container furnished with a spout fromwhich to pour or extract the product it contains.

In particular, albeit with no limitation in general scope implied, thepresent invention relates to a container for liquid products, andtypically food products such as mineral water, milk, fruit juices,yoghurt and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

The art field of bottling and packaging applicable to the aforementionedproducts embraces containers appearing as a hollow body of multi-layerpaper material, typically cardboard or paperboard, coated with one ormore layers of food-safe material suitable in particular for liquids.

A container of the type in question is fashioned from a flat diecutblank, detached generally from a roll and then folded along precreasedlines in such a way as to form a recipient capable of holding theproducts in question.

The recipient remains open at the top so that it can be filled, andthereafter, the edges of the blank delimiting the open top are joinedand sealed together to provide the container with a hermetic closure.

An alternative practice conventionally adopted is to attach a rigidtubular element or “neck” to the top of the container, which provides aspout from which to pour the product and can be coupled with a relativecap providing the closure for the container.

The rigid tubular element in question is secured to the portion of theblank constituting the top of the container, normally by means of aheat-weld or using a hot-melt adhesive.

In the event of the rigid tubular element being attached at a pointcoinciding with the joined edges of the blank, it can prove particularlydifficult to obtain a hermetic seal.

Consequently, one of the drawbacks connected with this type of solutionis that the provision of a hermetic closure on the container byconventional methods is particularly complex and difficult to achieve,and may involve the use of significant quantities of adhesive and/orweld material.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container forproducts of the type in question such as will remain unaffected by theaforementioned drawbacks, as well as being functional, practical andinexpensive to produce.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The stated object is realized according to the present invention in acontainer fashioned from a blank of multi-layer paper material,comprising a tubular element associated with a top section of thecontainer and providing a spout from which to pour a product heldinternally of the selfsame container, the top section including at leasttwo edges of the blank united in lapping contact to establish a joinedarea, characterized in that the tubular element affords at least oneprojection interposable between the edges of the blank and weldedtogether with at least a portion of the area along which the selfsameedges are joined.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, withthe aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a container embodied in accordance with the presentinvention, viewed in perspective from above;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the container of FIG. 1 furnished with acap, viewed in a schematic side elevation;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2,illustrated with certain parts omitted and others in section;

FIG. 4 illustrates a different embodiment of the container according tothe present invention, viewed in perspective from above;

FIGS. 5 to 9 show a detail of the container as in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4illustrated in five alternative embodiments and viewed in respectiveschematic side elevations;

FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of a further embodiment of the containeraccording to the present invention, viewed in perspective from above;

FIG. 11 illustrates the portion of the container shown in FIG. 10furnished with a cap, viewed in a schematic side elevation;

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the container of FIGS. 10 and 11,illustrated with certain parts omitted and others in section;

FIG. 13 illustrates a further embodiment of the detail shown in FIGS. 5to 9, viewed in perspective from above.

With reference to the drawings, the container to which the presentinvention relates is denoted 1, in its entirety.

The container 1 is erected from one or more blanks (not illustrated) ofmulti-layer paper material, such as cardboard or paperboard coated witha film of food-safe material at least on the surface exposed to theproduct.

The container 1 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a tubular container body 2referable to a predominating vertical axis A, presenting a base 3 ofquadrangular geometry and four vertical side walls 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Each of the vertical side walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 lies parallel to the wall4, 5, 6 and 7 opposite, and normal to the two adjoining walls 4, 5, 6and 7.

The vertical side walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 are separated one from the next byrespective vertical corner edges denoted 8.

The container 1 also comprises a top section 9 presenting four angledfaces denoted 4 a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a, each extending upward from arespective vertical side wall 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Each of the angled faces 4 a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a is joined to the faces 4a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a on either side by respective first raised and weldedseams 10.

Each first seam 10 is obtained by lapping together and welding two edges11 (see FIG. 3) of the aforementioned blank of paper material.

The first seams 10 constitute respective joined areas 12 along which theangled faces 4 a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a are connected.

The tubular container body 2 is erected in familiar manner from a blankof paper material, and in such a way that two mutually opposed verticalside walls 5 and 7 will present two respective second longitudinalwelded seams 13, each flattened against the relative vertical side wallin a configuration such as to minimize the corresponding transversedimension of the body 2.

Each vertical side wall 4, 5, 6 and 7 is delimited at bottom by theaforementioned quadrangular base 3, laterally by the vertical corneredges 8, and uppermost by a horizontal corner edge 14 that alsocoincides with a crease line 14 a delimiting the relative angled face 4a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a.

The four angled faces 4 a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a converge from the relativehorizontal crease lines 14 a toward a spout 15 from which the contentsof the container 1 can be poured, combining thus to establish afrustopyramidal section 16 of the selfsame container.

The spout 15 appears as a cylindrical tubular element 17 of plasticmaterial, presenting a flanged annular part 18, and on either side ofthe annular part, a bottom first portion 19 (illustrated in FIGS. 5 to9) and a top second portion 20.

The top second portion 20 is threaded in such a way as to receive arespective screw cap 21 providing a closure for the container 1,illustrated in FIG. 2.

The top ends of the angled faces 4 a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a combine to createan annular top edge 22 of the container 1, which is connected to theaforementioned bottom first portion 19 of the tubular element 17 bymeans of a weld.

Referring to FIG. 2, the flanged annular part 18 presents a shoulder 23offered to the annular edge 22 of the container and serving to ensurethat the tubular element 17 is positioned correctly in relation to theannular edge 22.

As discernible in FIG. 3, the bottom first portion 19 of the tubularelement 17 presents four substantially radial projections 24 equispacedaround the periphery of the selfsame element and separated thus one fromthe next by a right angle.

The first raised seams 10 are able to engage the projections 24 of theannular element at respective points near the annular top edge 22.

In other words, each projection 24 coincides with a given portion of thejoined area 12, locating between two edges 11 of the blank that areunited in lapping contact and welded to form the first seams 10.

In the example of FIG. 5, the projection 24 consists in a tag 25 ofpolygonal outline cantilevered from the bottom first portion 19 of thetubular element 17.

In the examples of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the projection 24 consists in atag of rounded outline, denoted 26 and 27 respectively. These tags 26and 27 likewise are cantilevered from the bottom first portion 19 of thetubular element 17. The tag 27 of FIG. 7 is angled advantageouslydownwards, matching the angle of the first welded seams 10.

In the example of FIG. 8, the projection 24 consists in a tag 28 ofpolygonal outline anchored both to the bottom first portion 19 and tothe shoulder 23 of the flanged annular part 18.

In the example of FIG. 9, the projection 24 consists in a peg 29.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the tubular container body 2 isformed by bending the blank of material along the aforementionedvertical corner edges 8 and welding the longitudinal seams 13, so as tocreate a semi-erected tubular component (not illustrated) centred on thepredominating axis A, then folding one end of the semi-erected tubularcomponent inwards to form the quadrangular base 3.

The four angled faces 4 a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a are joined and weldedtogether along the first seams 10, and substantially as part of thissame step, the tubular element 17 is secured by welding to the annulartop edge 22 of the container 1.

During the course of this welding step, each of the projections 24located between the two corresponding edges of the blank will be meltedat least in part by the welding means (conventional, and notillustrated) so that the plastic material of the projection 24 isactually incorporated as a sealing medium into the closure of thecontainer 1.

In other words, the plastic material of the projections 24 is designedto function as a filler material in the welded assembly and thus to helpensure an effective seal of the joined areas 12, which are especiallycritical to the sealing action at the annular top edge 22.

Advantageously, the elevation of the first raised and welded seams 10from the surface of the angled faces 4 a, 5 a, 6 a and 7 a has theeffect of improving the mechanical strength of the top section 9significantly, in terms of its resistance to crushing forces along themain axis A.

An alternative embodiment of the container 1 illustrated in FIG. 4comprises a flat body 30 of substantially elliptical cross sectionreferable to a predominating vertical axis A, presenting a base 31 andtwo mutually opposed side walls 32 of convex profile.

The container 1 further comprises a top section 9 presenting two angledfaces 33, each associated respectively with one of the side walls 32.The side walls 32 and the respective angled faces 33 are joined one toanother by respective welded seams 34.

Each welded seam 34 is obtained by lapping and welding together twoedges 35 of the blank of paper material from which the container 1 ismade.

In like manner to the example of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the container 1presents a spout 15 provided by a cylindrical tubular element 17 ofplastic material presenting a flanged annular part 18, and on eitherside of the annular part, a bottom first portion 19 and a top secondportion 20.

Unlike the first embodiment, and as a direct result of there being onlytwo angled faces 33, the tubular element 17 presents just twosubstantially radial projections 24, not illustrated in the drawings,equispaced angularly at 180° and designed to locate between the twoedges 35 of the blank that are lapped and welded to form the seams 34.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a further embodiment of the container 1of which the body 36, indicated only in part, is surmounted by a topsection 9 consisting in a frustoconical wall 37.

The frustoconical wall 37 is referable to a cone denoted 38, andpresents a raised and welded seam 39 establishing a joined area 40 onthe selfsame wall 37 that extends along a generator (not indicated inthe drawing) of the reference cone 38.

The welded seam 39 is obtained by lapping and welding together two edges41 of the blank of paper material from which the frustoconical wall 37is fashioned.

In like manner to the example of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the container 1presents a spout 15 provided by a cylindrical tubular element 17 ofplastic material presenting a flanged annular part 18, and on eitherside of the annular part, a bottom first portion 19 and a top secondportion 20.

Unlike the first embodiment, and as a direct result of there being onlyone welded seam 39, the tubular element 17 presents just one projection24, illustrated in FIG. 13, designed to locate between the two edges 41of the blank that are lapped and welded to form the seam 39.

Advantageously, a tear-open element of conventional type (notillustrated) is located between the annular flange part and the cap tomaintain the hermetic seal of the closure and prevent accidental orunwarranted opening of the container 1.

In the example of FIG. 13, the bottom first portion 19 of the tubularelement 17 presents a flat peripheral zone 42 functioning as a referencethat serves to ensure the tubular element 17 will assume a givenposition relative to the annular top edge 22 of the container 1.

In a further alternative embodiment of the container 1, not illustratedin the drawings, the tubular element 17 presents a bottom first portion19 of quadrangular shape, and a second top portion 20 of cylindricalshape similar to that already described.

1) A container fashioned from a blank of multi-layer paper material,comprising a tubular element (17) associated with a top section (9) ofthe container (1) and providing a spout (15) from which to pour aproduct held internally of the selfsame container (1), the top section(9) including at least two edges (11; 35; 41) of the blank united inlapping contact to establish a joined area (12; 40), the tubular element(17) affording at least one projection (24) interposable between theedges (11; 35; 41) of the blank and welded together with at least aportion of the area (12; 40) along which the selfsame edges are joinedwherein said joined area (12; 40) extends from the tubular element (17)downhill on the top section (9). 2) A container as in claim 1, whereinthe tubular element (17) comprises a flanged annular part (18) againstwhich a top edge (22) of the container (1) is caused to register. 3) Acontainer as in claim 2, wherein the tubular element (17) comprises abottom first portion (19) located on one side of the flanged part (18),incorporating the projection (24) and positioned to connect with the topedge (22), also a top second portion (20) located on the opposite sideof the flanged part (18) and designed to couple with a closure element(21) of the container (1). 4) A container as in claim 1, wherein thetubular element (17) comprises two projections (24) interposable betweencorresponding edges (11; 35; 41) of the blank constituting respectivejoined areas (12; 40). 5) A container as in claim 1, wherein the tubularelement (17) comprises four projections (24) distributed around itsperiphery and interposable between corresponding edges (11) of the blankconstituting respective joined areas (12). 6) A container as in claim 5,comprising a substantially parallelepiped body (2), wherein the topsection (9) of the container (1) presents four faces (4 a, 5 a, 6 a, 7a) extending from respective walls (4, 5, 6, 7) of the parallelepipedbody (2) and converging toward the tubular element (17). 7) A containeras in claim 6, wherein the four faces (4 a, 5 a, 6 a, 7 a) are connectedone to another by way of the joined areas (12) along which the edges(11) of the blank of paper material are united. 8) A container as inclaim 7, wherein the joined areas (12) are disposed in alignment withrespective corner edges (8) separating the walls (4, 5, 6, 7) of theparallelepiped body (2). 9) A container as in claim 1, comprising asubstantially frustoconical wall (37) coinciding with the top section(9) and converging toward the tubular element (17). 10) A container asin claim 9, wherein the frustoconical wall (37) presents a joined area(40) along which the edges (41) of the blank are united, and the joinedarea (40) extends substantially along a generator of a cone (38) towhich the frustoconical wall (37) is referable. 11) A container as inclaim 1, comprising a flat body (30) of substantially ellipticalsection, wherein the top section (9) of the container (1) presents twofaces (33) converging toward the tubular element (17). 12) A containeras in claim 1, wherein the projection (24) interposable between theedges (11; 35; 41) constituting the joined area (12; 40) appears as atag (25) of polygonal outline. 13) A container as in claim 1, whereinthe projection (24) interposable between the edges (11; 35; 41)constituting the joined area (12; 40) appears as a tag (26; 27) ofrounded outline. 14) A process as in claim 12, wherein the tag (25; 26;27) is fixed to and cantilevered from the bottom first portion (19) ofthe tubular element (17). 15) A container as in claim 1, wherein theprojection (24) interposable between the edges (11; 35; 41) constitutingthe joined area (12; 40) consists in a peg (29) fixed to andcantilevered from the tubular element (17). 16) A container as in claim1, wherein the projection (24) interposable between the edges (11; 35;41) constituting the joined area (12; 40) serves as a filler materialwith which to weld the edges (11; 35; 41). 17) A container as in claim1, wherein at least the bottom first portion (19) of the tubular element(17) presents a flat zone (42) functioning as a reference determiningthe position of the tubular element (17) relative to the top section (9)of the container (1). 18) A container as in claim 3, wherein the tubularelement (17) comprises two projections (24) interposable betweencorresponding edges (11; 35; 41) of the blank constituting respectivejoined areas (12; 40). 19) A container as in claim 2, wherein thetubular element (17) comprises two projections (24) interposable betweencorresponding edges (11; 35; 41) of the blank constituting respectivejoined areas (12; 40). 20) A container as in claim 4, wherein thetubular element (17) comprises four projections (24) distributed aroundits periphery and interposable between corresponding edges (11) of theblank constituting respective joined areas (12).